Keetmanshoop based defence lawyer Henry van Zyl is asking Windhoek High Court Acting Judge Philanda Christiaan to find his client, Kevin Mathew Cloete, not guilty and discharge him on a count of murder read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act. Cloete is accused of murdering his stepfather – the boyfriend of his mother – Deon Bobeje,...
Commonwealth SG pays tribute to Namibia’s fallen heroes
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, was deeply moved on Saturday on her first visit to Namibia’s national shrine, the Heroes Acre, where two former presidents were laid to rest. “It’s a very emotional experience for me to learn of the past, and to see where founding president (Sam Nujoma) and President Hage Geingob are buried. But it...
Woman allegedly kills brother at Oshikuni
A 24-year-old woman is expected to appear in the Okongo Magistrate’s Court today after allegedly fatally stabbing her 30-year-old brother with a knife on Saturday at Oshikuni village in Ohangwena region. Warrant Officer Andreas Nghiyolwa of Ohangwena confirmed the incident, identifying the deceased as Thomas Abraham. A police report says the suspect returned home late at night from a cuca...
August 26 Holdings’ dealings above board – Kapofi
Lahja Nashuuta The State-owned August 26 Holdings has secured and completed more than 150 government contracts worth over N$1 billion in the past decade, Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi has confirmed. Founded on 14 August 1998, and fully owned by the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, August 26 Holdings operates in construction, logistics and support services tailored...
Sankwasa reboots Dâure Daman chieftaincy …says customary procedures were overstepped
SWAKOPMUND – The legitimacy of Zacharias Seibeb’s position as chief of the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority has once again come under scrutiny. This is following recommendations by Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa for a complete restart of the succession process. In a letter addressed to Seibeb, Sankwasa confirmed that the traditional chieftaincy, which should be determined through a...
Okahao dumpsite a health hazard
OKAHAO – The dumpsite at Okahao town in Omusati region has become a hotbed for scavenging, as people and animals put their health at risk with the town council’s failure to close the dumpsite. Residents say the entrance to the site is always left open, allowing goats, children, and adults to freely enter and rummage through the waste for food,...
South African gets 15 years for vehicle theft
The 38-year-old South African woman who was convicted of motor vehicle theft and contravening several sections of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 29 of 2004 (POCA), was sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison in the Katima Mulilo Regional Court on Wednesday. Chante Coetzee was convicted on three counts. She was sentenced to a 10 years imprisonment for...
Lead from where you are – Geingos
Former First Lady Monica Geingos says Namibians must tell their stories to avoid having them distorted by others, and where possible, lead from wherever they find themselves, to make Namibia a better place for all. Geingos said this on Friday in Windhoek, when she premiered “Lead from Where You Are: The Journey of the Office of the First Lady (2015–2024)”,...
Free education to include private institutions
Rudolf Gaiseb The education ministry has reaffirmed including students at private tertiary institutions in the government’s free education initiative. Education deputy minister Dino Ballotti said funding should focus on the student – not the private institution. Speaking at a meeting for the free education task force on Thursday, he highlighted the significance of an inclusive funding model. “We must consider...
Immanuel calls for faster arbitration awards
SWAKOPMUND – Justice and Labour Relations Minister Wise Immanuel has called for a complete overhaul in terms of labour cases that put workers at the receiving end. He said arbitration awards from the labour commissioner take too long, resulting in employees falling into hardships. He made these remarks in Swakopmund on Wednesday at a workshop being attended by senior leaders...